The Justice Department has faced backlash from lawyers representing Epstein's victims after releasing a new batch of documents that failed to adequately protect survivors' identities. This release, which occurred on January 30, 2026, included over 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, compounding previous privacy concerns raised by advocates.

Lawyers Brittany Henderson and Brad Edwards cited an "unfolding emergency" in their letter to U.S. District Judges Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer, demanding the immediate removal of the DOJ website hosting Epstein materials. They detailed widespread failures, stating that thousands of names had been improperly redacted, exposing victims to potential harassment.

Survivors expressed their distress following the release. Danielle Bensky, a survivor, highlighted that private conversations with FBI investigators had inadvertently been included in the document pile. She described her feelings as evolving from carelessness to incompetence, even suggesting a semblance of deliberate action against survivors.

In response to the outcry, the DOJ stated they were in the process of removing erroneously released documents containing victim-identifying information. However, the damage may already be done for several victims. One anonymous individual mentioned facing immediate harassment since her identity was disclosed.

The urgency of these demands is underscored by the long history of Epstein's abuses and the complexities surrounding victim protections. Lawyers assert that the DOJ had months to prepare for safe information release and should have implemented more robust redaction processes.

In their letter, the attorneys called for:

Immediate takedown of all public documents containing unredacted material. Appointment of a special master to oversee the redaction process moving forward.

As the situation unfolds, the responses to these demands from the courts and the DOJ could significantly impact the future safety and privacy of Epstein's survivors.